How to Ask for Help and Look Smart Doing So
There are times when its difficult to ask for help. In our personal lives, such reluctance can lead to projects remaining unfinished, unresolved problems, procrastination, etc. In a management position, decisiveness is considered to be such a key att
How to Ask for Help and Look Smart Doing So
There are times when it’s difficult to ask for help. In our personal lives, such reluctance can lead to projects remaining unfinished, unresolved problems, procrastination, etc. In a management position, decisiveness is considered to be such a key attribute of a leader that many of us fear a betrayal of uncertainty could lead to the loss of confidence and respect amongst our associates.
As Jodi Glickman Brown points out, part of being a successful manager is learning to how to ask for help, and then to doing it the right away. It’s plain and simple: being afraid to ask for help and receiving the help you need is inexcusable. There’s much more than your own reputation on the line.
Jodi provides a three point strategy you can use to ask for help and look smart doing so:
1. Start your question with what you know.
Do your homework first. Get enough background information to put your issue or problem in context. Give the other person an idea of what you've completed to date or what you know already and then proceed to explain what's outstanding, where or how you're struggling, or what you need help with.
2. Then, state the direction you want to take and ask for feedback, thoughts or clarification.
Form an opinion on what you think the answer should be. Don't just ask, "How should I reach out to the brokers?" Instead propose a course of action and get your boss's feedback: "I'm thinking of sending out a mass email to the brokers but I'm not sure if that's the most effective format...what do you think of that approach?"
3. If you don't know the direction to take, ask for tangible guidance.
Instead of asking "What should I do?" ask specifically for the tools you'll need to make that decision yourself, such as a recent example of a similar analysis or a template for a given task. Or, ask for a referral to someone who has worked on a similar initiative or project in the past.
By asking the “tough, smart questions” you’ll reinforce your leadership abilities and value to your organization while uncovering the information you need to move forward.